Accommodation Quote by Henry Petroski
“Successful design is not the achievement of perfection but the minimization and accommodation of imperfection.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down, Henry Petroski, 2006
Design succeeds by managing flaws rather than chasing flawless ideals.
In simple terms: Good design handles imperfection.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and plan for imperfections.
Themes
design
engineering
perfectionism
Mood
pragmatic
realistic
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- product development
- architecture
- software engineering
- manufacturing
Key Concepts
systems thinking
robustness
trade‑offs
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you identify the most critical imperfections?
- What trade‑offs are acceptable in your project?
A Different Perspective
Perfect designs are unattainable and can waste resources.
![“Whether or not science can be applied to that mental construct [i.e. the designed entity] is a matter of availability. If there is body of scientific knowledge that can be applied, then it would be foolish not to exploit it. However, if there is none, it does not mean that the thing cannot be…” quote by Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/17d/henry-petroski-10198_availability_whether-or-not-science-can-be-applied-to_341822.jpg)
